Explore Academy's Innovative Approach to Student-Centered Education

Better Learning Podcast

Justin Baiardo, Executive Director and Founder of Explore Academy, joins us to share the groundbreaking model of his charter school, where the focus is on offering students a truly individualized learning experience.

At Explore Academy, students are given the unique opportunity to choose from different versions of every class, allowing them to pick the teaching style that best suits their needs. This student-centered approach pairs students with teachers based on learning styles, fostering an environment where both can thrive.

What sets Explore Academy apart is its commitment to student choice and teacher creativity. As Justin explains, "The school could be around for 10,000 years and no two students would ever share the same educational pathway." This model empowers students with the autonomy to shape their education, while teachers are encouraged to innovate in their instructional methods.

Explore Academy's journey began with a high school program but has since expanded to include middle and elementary schools. The goal remains steadfast: to prepare students for college and provide them with a strong foundation in both academic and life skills. However, unlike many institutions that push for rapid expansion, Explore Academy is focused on stabilizing its current schools, ensuring quality education, and maintaining their student-centered philosophy.

Takeaways:

1. Explore Academy offers different versions of every class, allowing students to choose the teaching style that works best for them.

2. The school focuses on preparing students for college and providing them with a strong foundation in academic and life skills.

3. The model allows teachers to be more creative and individualized in their teaching methods.

4. Parents appreciate the level of individuality and choice that the school provides for their children's education. Explore Academy is focused on stabilizing their current schools and maintaining their philosophy of student-centered education.

5. They prioritize offering quality education and ensuring student excellence over rapid expansion.

Justin Baiardo is the founder and executive director of Explore Academy - Albuquerque and co-founder of Explore Learning Systems. Over the past several years, he has worked to bring the beginning network of Explore Academy schools into existence while implementing a novel and innovative educational model seen nowhere else in the country.

Visit Explore Academy's Website: https://www.explore.academy/

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/.

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Episode 194 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

For more information on our partners:

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

Kay-Twelve - https://www.kay-twelve.com/

EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/